The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain John Winslow O’Neill (MCSN: 0-9768), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while in command of a rifle platoon attached to the Third Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Five Forks, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on November 18, 1943. Establishing a combat outpost in advance of his battalion’s front lines on November 18, Captain O’Neill fearlessly conducted the defense of his position and, during the thirty-five hours of action, he and his men destroyed thirty Japanese and obtained enemy orders and maps of great value. Participating in an attack by his battalion against a strongly entrenched hostile position on November 24, Captain O’Neill unhesitatingly advanced alone in full view of the enemy in order to reconnoiter the Japanese position. Coolly returning to his men, he ordered an attack which destroyed the enemy but was mortally wounded while leading the assault. His aggressive fighting spirit and intrepidity under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Unites States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.